Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Sunday met with U.S. Senator Steve Daines and some American business people, who are here to attend the China Development Forum 2025.
Noting that the development of China-U.S. relations has reached a new important juncture, Li said that history has proven that both China and the United States stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Both sides should choose dialogue rather than confrontation, and choose win-win cooperation instead of a zero-sum game.
It is hoped that the United States will work with China to engage in candid communication, and build trust and clear up misgivings in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. They should deepen pragmatic cooperation, and work together to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of relations, he said.
Li pointed out that economic and trade cooperation is an important foundation of China-U.S. relations. Over the past few decades, the fruitful economic and trade cooperation achieved between China and the United States is the result of joint efforts of both sides and should be cherished.
The more difficulties bilateral relations face, the more important it is to safeguard and develop China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, said the premier.
Li said that nobody has to gain from a trade war, and no country can achieve development and prosperity through imposing tariffs. He called on the two countries to solve problems, such as trade imbalance, by making the pie of cooperation bigger.
"China always welcomes companies from all over the world, including the United States, to share development opportunities in China, and will actively address their legitimate demands, treat domestic and foreign companies as equals, and continue to foster a sound business environment," Li said.
People from the American side said that great changes have taken place in China in recent decades. U.S. companies actively participate in and support China's development, and are willing to continue investing in China, strengthen dialogue and cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and strive to promote the sustainable development of b
Chengdu police in Southwest China's Sichuan Province announced on Thursday that six people were administratively detained for staging a matchmaking video by fabricating facts, recruiting participants, and falsifying identities.
Previously, a matchmaking video involving a man claiming to "work in a provincial-level government agency with an annual income of 350,000 to 400,000 yuan ($55,265)" was circulating on the internet, attracting public attention.
According to the police statement, a legal investigation confirmed that the video was fabricated by a company from another province to generate online traffic. The company planned and produced the fake content by fabricating facts, recruiting participants, and falsifying identities. The company's legal representative, a 28-year-old man surnamed Liu, organized and wrote the fake script, recruited a 37-year-old company employee surnamed Li, and paid him to play a fictional role. He also instructed employees, including a 26-year-old man surnamed Li, a 24-year-old man surnamed Yan, another 24-year-old man surnamed Xu, and a 28-year-old surnamed Zhang, to stage the video in Chengdu, handle post-production, and upload it online.
The individuals involved in the case fabricated identities such as civil servants, residential addresses, and income levels with the aim of directing traffic to a certain matchmaking platform to earn referral commissions, severely misleading the public and causing negative social impact. Their actions constitute the fabrication of facts and disruption of public order, the statement said.
Currently, the public security authorities have imposed administrative detention penalties to the people involved based on the Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the People's Republic of China. Liu has been penalized with 10 days of detention, Li seven days, and employees Yan, Xu, Zhang, and Li got five days each. The case is still under further investigation.
The police have urged the public that cyberspace is not a realm beyond the law and no organization or individual is allowed to fabricate or spread false information to disrupt public order. Public security authorities will work with relevant departments to continue deepening the comprehensive governance of cyberspace, severely crack down on various online illegal activities in accordance with the law, and effectively maintain a clean and healthy online environment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff late Thursday to discuss the details of an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, asking him to relay Moscow's perspectives to Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Friday, the Associated Press (AP) reported. This follows Putin's remarks Thursday that Russia is "in favor" of the 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine, but nuances exist.
Peskov indicated that a potential phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump to address unresolved ceasefire issues could be arranged once Witkoff delivers Moscow's messages to Washington, according to the AP report.
He [Witkoff] was received by President Putin late last night, providing additional information to Russia. Through Witkoff, Putin conveyed messages and further signals to President Trump, Peskov explained, as reported by TASS. However, the Kremlin spokesman refrained from disclosing the specific topics covered during the meeting.
A TASS source noted that Witkoff departed Moscow around 11 a.m. local time on Friday.
Witkoff landed in Moscow for talks and presented the ceasefire plan on Thursday. The ceasefire proposal gained traction earlier this week when Ukraine, following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, expressed support for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire," according to a joint statement released on Tuesday.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin remarked, "We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be one that would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," according to the Xinhua News Agency.
Putin highlighted the difficulty in monitoring ceasefire violations along the 2,000 km contact line of the conflict and raised the issue that Ukraine might use the temporary ceasefire for mobilization and weapons supplies, according to the report.
Putin also indicated that he might call Trump to discuss the issue, adding that Russia will negotiate the next steps to end the conflict and reach acceptable agreements based on the situation "on the ground," according to Xinhua.
Wan Qingsong, an expert at the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University, told the Global Times that Putin's statement continues Russia's previously expressed openness to peace talks while reaffirming that any negotiations must address the root causes of the conflict. Furthermore, Putin is also signaling an intent to sustain the thawing momentum of Russia-US relations that has already begun.
Mixed reactions
US President Donald Trump said on social media Friday that "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday," and there is a very good chance that "this horrible, bloody war" can finally come to an end.
Also in response to Putin's statement, President Trump said earlier that there have been "good signals" coming out of Russia. Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said, "Putin put out a very promising statement, but it wasn't complete," the AP reported.
"Now we'll see if Russia follows through. If they don't, it'll be a deeply disappointing moment for the world," Trump reiterated, stressing the urgency of ending the conflict, according to AP.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a "pessimistic tone" in his evening address to Ukrainians on Thursday, the New York Times said.
Zelensky said Putin's response to the ceasefire proposal was "very predictable." He added that Putin has set so many preconditions "that nothing will work out at all, or that it will not work out for as long as possible," according to the media report.
Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times that all parties are exercising diplomatic flexibility to signal to their domestic populations and the international community that they are not the ones impeding peace or exacerbating the conflict.
Nevertheless, their reactions also underscore profound disagreements over arrangements for enduring security, presenting formidable obstacles to a comprehensive resolution of the Ukraine crisis, Li said.
Li noted that the peace plan put forward by the US does not adequately account for the demands of all stakeholders. The ceasefire proposal, laden with temporary measures, lacks the foundation for long-term stability, raising the risk of a superficial "ceasefire for ceasefire's sake."
According to Wan, the parties involved may still be engaged in a phase of mutual probing. "Within the US-Ukraine joint statement issued Tuesday, the US pledge to resume military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine stands in apparent contradiction to the very objective of securing a ceasefire."
The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday that the UN will welcome any potential ceasefire in Ukraine, hoping that it will be concluded and lead to a lasting peace, according to Tass.
"On the Ukraine crisis, China has all along followed the four points proposed by President Xi Jinping on what must be done, namely, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter should be observed, the legitimate security concerns of all countries should be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to a peaceful settlement of the crisis should be supported," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Friday.
"We hope relevant parties will reach a fair and durable peace deal that is binding and accepted by all the parties concerned through dialogue and negotiation. China stands ready to work with the international community and continue to play a constructive role in resolving the crisis and realizing lasting peace," Mao said.
Based on 'new realities'
Meanwhile, ministers from G7 countries are holding meetings in Canada, seeking unity amid both US tariff pressure and the followup of the Ukraine crisis.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, who opened the formal G7 meeting, said she hoped to find ways to "continue to support Ukraine in the face of Russia's illegal aggression." Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged the G7 to avoid "antagonistic" language toward Russia, saying it would hinder US diplomacy that could end the conflict, according to Deutsche Welle.
According to a communique draft seen by Reuters, there is no mention of possible new sanctions on Russia. However, it stressed the need for "robust and credible security guarantees" so that a ceasefire would be respected and that Ukraine would be able to "deter and defend itself against future aggression."
As the US envoy landed in Moscow on Thursday for talks on an American-proposed 30-day ceasefire, Russia's Defense Ministry announced the same day that its forces had retaken the key town of Sudzha in Ukraine-held Kursk region, following President Putin's visit to Kursk.
Putin said on Thursday that Russia is in full control of the situation in the Kursk Region and the Ukrainian combat group is completely blocked, per TASS.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told media that the ceasefire plan proposed by the US and Ukraine is a "temporary respite" for Ukraine's military, according to Xinhua. Ushakov said in a TV interview that Moscow is striving for a "long-term" peaceful settlement that takes into account Russia's legitimate interests.
Negotiations with Moscow are unlikely to yield progress if the US and Ukraine fail to take into account the new battlefield realities and Russia's core demands for resolving the conflict, Wan said.
Territorial issues will clearly influence whether peace negotiations can achieve substantive progress, noted Wan, adding that as Russia gains the upper hand on the battlefield, its demands are likely to escalate, leaving less room for compromise, rather than merely accommodating US' preferences.
Since the publication of the first volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China in 2014, the book has garnered widespread recognition globally, becoming a key resource for political figures, scholars, and experts in many countries. It stands as the leader's work with the most published languages, the widest coverage, and the greatest global influence, opening a "window of thought" for understanding China in the new era.
To offer global audiences deeper insights into Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and the key concepts it contains, including perspectives on development, civilization, security, human rights, ecology, international order, and global governance, the Global Times is launching the "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China" series. Through themed columns such as "Scholars' Perspectives," "Translators' Voices," "Practitioners' Insights," and "Readers' Reflections," this series will feature perspectives from Chinese and international scholars, translators of the work, practitioners of its concepts, and overseas readers. It aims to share what they have seen and understood about China's philosophy, values, and wisdom through the book.
For the first installment of the "Readers' Reflections" column, we invite Zoon Ahmed Khan, a Pakistani researcher and journalist based in Beijing, to share her insights from reading the volume 4 of the book and her perspective on China's democratic system. During reading Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, I felt China's whole-process people's democracy is unique as a model of governance; it is responsive, effective, and focused on achieving results from a genuinely people-centered perspective. The country's democratic system emphasizes dialogue, results, accountability, and grassroots participation. It's a "living democracy."
Having lived in China since 2015 and studying and working as an international relations researcher and journalist, I have had the opportunity to visit numerous rural villages, urban communities, and legislative bodies. I found there is a deep focus on tangible improvements in people's lives. Government officials in local communities are responsible for bringing sensible improvements through not only their expertise but also by engaging with the people, and this is a significant difference.
We foreigners are here in China because we see opportunity, progress and a welcoming environment. We have also been involved in visiting different areas of the country and having our suggestions on improvements heard by the governments. Everyone who lives here has a space to contribute, regardless of their background or age.
At the invitation of China, Prime Minister Mark Brown of the Cook Islands will attend the Closing Ceremony of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin from February 10 to 16, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday.
Premier Li Qiang will meet with him in Harbin. Prime Minister Brown and his delegation visited Shanghai and Shandong, Guo said.
The spokesperson noted that Cook Islands is China's cooperation partner in the South Pacific. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, the two countries have respected each other, treated each other as equals, and sought common development.
"In 2018, our relationship was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership. Our friendly cooperation is rooted in profound public support and delivers tangibly to the two peoples," Guo said.
"Through Prime Minister Brown's visit, China stands ready to have an in-depth exchange of views with the Cook Islands on our relations and work for new progress in bilateral relations," Guo said.
According to the website of the office of the Cook Islands Prime Minister, this marks the first state visit by a prime minister from the country to China in the last decade and presents an opportunity to enhance cooperation across key sectors.
In a statement published on his office's website on Wednesday, Brown said that his conversations in China "have opened the door to new areas of collaboration," including expanding the Cook Islands' marine research capabilities through partnerships with the China Ocean Sample Repository and the National Deep Sea Center, both located in Qingdao in Shandong Province.
The collaboration also includes "exploring aquaculture opportunities with Qingdao Frontier Ocean Seed Company," as well as enhancing "national climate resilience efforts, particularly in weather forecasting and climate change adaptation, through cooperation with global experts," read the statement.
The expanding cooperation between China and the Cook Islands in addressing climate change, agriculture, and fisheries is expected to contribute to the South Pacific country's robust economic development and provide substantial momentum for improving people's livelihoods, Chen Hong, executive director at the Asia Pacific Studies Centre of East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Thursday.
Chen noted that China-Cook Islands bilateral cooperation is a microcosm of that between China and the Pacific Island countries (PICs), which is beneficial for bilateral relations and for the prosperity of the region.
"Just like the Cook Islands, many PICs can boost their economies through cooperation with China, which will not interfere in their domestic affairs nor impose political conditions on them, but fully respects the sovereignty and independence, the will and the ethnic and cultural traditions of the PICs and their efforts to seek strength through unity," Chen said.
